Submersible motor



W. BAUM.

SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27, 97.

-1 380 943 V v Patented June 7, 1921.

lrventor: Wi Ham Baum,

H isa ttorneg.

UNITED srATEs PATENT OFFICE."

WILL-Im ZBATIM, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR '1'0 GENERAL ELECTRIC4 'V COMPANY, A CORPO RATION OF NEW`YORK. i

SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June '7, 1921.

Application filed September 27, 1917. Serial No. 193576.

This invention relates to the protection of' electric. motors, which areso located that they may. at times be submerged in water. For instance,electric motors are now commonly installed for driving pumps in mines,excavations and like places where the pump e uipments are frequently'submerged. ost sea-going vessels, both merchant and war ships, havewater-tight compartments, and in case of damage to a compartment aneflicient and successful equip-.

ment of pumps may materially assist in keeping the vessel afloat.Inasmuch as such pumps are frequently and most efficently driven byelectric motors, the protection of the motors from injury is of greatimportance.

Varous methods of protecting submersible motors have been attempted; forinstance, it has been suggested to operate the motor within a divingbell to which air pressure is furnished by a compressor, tocounterbalance the pressure of the water and keep it out of the divingbell, permitting the motor to operate without coming in contact with thewater. This arrangement,

however, is objectionable especially on ships,

because of the space required.

Air pressure has also been successfully applied directly to the interiorof the motor for counterbalancing the water pressure, a

central air compressor furnishing the required air pressure to a numberof pump motors, but this system has the serious disadvantage that all ofthe pump motors are affected if the compressor set, or pipe systemsuffers any injury or trouble.

The object of this invention is to provide a submersible motor withself-contained means for maintaining the proper air pressure within themotor casing to counterbalance the water pressure and thus protect themotor parts from injury.

Other objects of my invention and the means of accomplishing them willappear hereinafter. i

For a full and clear understanding of my invention reference may be hadto the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a longtudinal' sectionof an electric motor equpped n accordance with myinvention', and Fig. 2is a diagram of electrical connections utilized in the preferredembodiment of. my invention.

My invention will more readily be understood by re ferring to theaccompanying drawing in which is shown an air pump 1 connected to theshaft 2 of an inclosed electric motor through gearing 13, the pump beingarranged to supply compressed air to the interor of the motor. A suctionpipe 4 leads from the pump 1 to the atmosphere,

outside the compartment, mine or excavation.

The pump is shown as being connected to an air tank 3, which forms thebase of the motor. The tank is connected with the interior of the motorby a discharge pipe 5, which may be closed by a valve 6, which isarranged to be operated automatically, when water rushes into thecompartment. The valve 6 is preferably operated by electric means,although this could be accomplished by other means, such, for example,as a float mechanically connected with the valve.

As illustrated inFig. 2 the valve is arranged to be operatedeleetrically by a circuit which is closed by the water covering twometallic plates 7 installed side by side in close proximity.

In order to maintain a constant air pressure" in the base, an air'compressor governor 8 is provided in the motor circuit and automatically starts the motor when the air pressure falls below apredetermined amount, in

a manner well understood by those familiar with the art. Assuming nowthat water rushes into the compartment, the valve 6 is opened, asdescribed above, and as there is a considerable air leakage through thebearings and other operation.

' `W hile my invention may be used in connection withany type ofinclosed electric 'moton ll have illustrated it in connection with auinduction motor 'of common design comprsing an armature 9 mounte'd on ashaft 2,`and field windings 10 carried in a' laminated structure on theinner periphery of the field ring 11. The shaft 2 is mounted in bearingsin the end frames 12, which with the field ring 11, form a casingcompletely inclosing the working;parts; the field ring 11 beingcorrugated to provide additional radiating surface for dissipating theheat developed in the motor; i

The invention as described provides a self-contained, compact equipmentwhich is adaptable to varying conditions of employment, and I havedisclosed it as embodied in what I now considerthe best form, but thearrangement is subject to modification and change without departing fromthe spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in theappended claims. What I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States, is:

motor having a shaft and provided with an inclosing casing, of an airpump, gearing connecting the pump with the motor shaft, a tank forming abase for the motor and receiving compressed air from said pump, saidtank being arranged to discharge compressed air into the interior of themotor, and a suction pipe extending from the pump to the outeratmosphere.

3. The combination with a submersible motor having a shaft and providedwith an inclosing casing, of means for preventing water from enteringsaid motor when' said motor is submerged eomprising an air pump, gearngconnectng the pump to the motor shaft, a tank recevngcompressed air fromsaid pump, a suction pipe extending from the pump to the outeratmosphere, a pipe arranged to discharge compressed air from the tank tothe interior of the motor, and adapted to maintain therein the properpressure to counterbalance the water pressure outside said motor, and avalve in said discharge pipe.

4. The combination with a submersible motor having a shaft and providedwith an inclosing casing, of an air-pump, gearing connecting the pump tothe motor shaft, a tank receiving compressed air from said pump, asuction pipe extending from the pump to the outer atmosphere, a pipearranged to discharge compressed air from the tank to the interior ofthe motor, a valve in said discharge pipe, and means arranged to beactuated by the water rising about the motor for Operating said valve.

5. The combination with a submersible motor having a shaft and providedwith an' inclosing casing, of an air-pump, gearing connecting the pumpto the motor shaft, a tank receiving compressed air from said pump, asuction pipe extending from the pump to the outer atmosphere, a pipearranged to discharge compressed-air from the tank to the interiorof'the motor, a valve in said discharge pipe, means actuated by waterrising about the motor for Operating said valve, and means subject tothe pressure in the tank for controlling the operation of the motor.

6. The combination with a submersible motor having a shaft and providedWith an inclosing casing, of an air pump, gearing connecting the pump to'the motor shaft within the casing, a tank receiving compressed-air fromsaid pump, a suction-pipe for the pump extending through the motorcasing to the outer atmosphere, a pipe arranged to discharge air fromthe tank to the interier of the 'motor, a valve in said discharge pipe,means controlled by water rising about the motor for Operating saidvalve and means subject to the pressure in the tank for controlling theoperation of the motor. v

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day ofSeptember, 1917.

WILLIAM BAUM,

